Electric lamp mounting



1967 L. THORINGTON ETAL 3,35fi984 ELECTRIC LAMP MOUNTING Filed Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTORS LUKE THORINGTON' DONALD G. TRUTNEF? Dec. 5, 1967 L. THORINGTON ETAL ELECTRIC LAMP MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Shefit 2 Fil ed Jan. 12, 1965 INVENTORS LUKE THORI NG TON %DONALD a TRUTNER i ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1967 3,356,984 ELECTRIC LAMP MOUNTEIG Luke Thorington, Berkley Heights, and Donald G. Triatner, Chatham, N.J., assignors to Duro-Test Corporation, North Bergen, N..I., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 424,908 16 Claims. (U. 33972) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric lamp such as, for example, an incandescent lamp having an envelope and a two part base constructed so that the lamp can be placed in an electric socket by screwing it into a threaded adapter shell and removed and placed in said socket as desired by axial movement in the proper direction to separate the lamp from the shell.

This invention relates to improvements in the base of electric lamps by means of which they are mounted in powered outlets such as an electric socket.

An object of this invention is to provide a two part base of this type constructed so that when the lamp is screwed into a socket it may thereafter be removed and replaced from said socket by axial movement leaving one part of the base in the socket.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure of several embodiments thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a view of one form of the invention showing it diagrammatically associated with a power socket;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through the base of the lamp showing the two parts thereof in assembled relation;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the releasable detent means illustrating the cooperation between the two containers of the base;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the base in modified form employing the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6- -6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 50f a second modified form of the device;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE -5 of still another modified form of the device;

FIGURE 9 is 'a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a.cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 8.

In general terms, the subject matter of this invention is related to the construction of the base of an incandescent lamp which can be threaded into a socket and unthreaded from the socket ifdesired, in the usual manner. In addition, however, the socket is constructed so that the lamp can be withdrawn and reinserted in the socket by axial movement leaving a portion of the base in the socket.

Referring first to FIGURES 1*4 inclusive there is diagrammatically illustrated at 10 the end of a light transmitting envelope such as is used in incandescent lamps. The terminal end of the envelope 10 is of reduced diameter as is shown and has a form similar to that shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 2. The terminal end of the envelope is mounted by means of a body of cement -18, commonly used for the purpose, within a cylindrical metal shell 12. This shell is generally similar to the base now commonly used on most incandescent lamps. Mounted in the lower end of the shell is a plug of insulating material 14 which serves to hold in place a metal contact assembly 16. As is well known, one terminal of the filament of such a lamp would be electrically connected to the shell 12. The other terminal, as is shown in FIGURE 2, is soldered to the contact assembly 16 at a central opening therein.

The shell 12 in the case of this invention does not have the usual helical deformation in the wall thereof to provide for screwing a mounting in a socket, As clearly indicated in FIGURE 1 the shell has a smooth extension with the exception that it has one or more struck-out spring fingers or male abutments 29. In practice three or more such abutments equi-distantly spaced circumferentially will be employed.

Further in accordance with this invention a cylindrical sleeve 22 has, in this case, the usual helical threads 24 on the surface thereof, which in its simplest form will be provided by deformation of the Wall of the sleeve (see FIG- URE 2). At the upper end of the sleeve a single annular groove 26 is provided out of which are struck the straps or female abutments 28. The number and circumferential placement of these abutments corresponds to those of the male abutments 20.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when the lamp with its shell 12 is pushed into the sleeve 22 the spring fingers or male abutments 20 will engage in the seats formed by striking out the straps or female abutments 28. As shown in a little more detail in FIGURE 4, the fingers 20 are slightly recessed at 26a so as to form seats for the bases 28a at the lower ends of the straps 28. The free ends of the spring fingers 20 snap in the space resulting from striking out the straps 28. e 7

It will be easily seen then that with the parts assembled as in FIGURE 2 the lamp can be mounted in the standard socket by screwing it into seating position in the usual manner, and can be removed by reverse rotation in the usual manner. The male and female abutments cooperating cause the shell 22 to rotate with the base 12 of the lamp in either direction. On the other hand, it is equally clear that the lamp can then be disengaged from and re-engaged with the socket as by pulling it out of the socket and then pushing it back in. In this operation the sleeve 22 remains screwed in the socket 19%). After any insertion of the lamp in the socket both parts of the vbase can be removed by rotating the lamp.

These same principles are used in the other forms ofthe invention shown in the remaining drawings. Thus, in FIGURES 5 and 6 the base shell 30 is similar to the shell 12 but its upper periphery edge is formed into a right angle flange 31. The sleeve 33 is similar to the sleeve 22 with the exception that the portion 34 of its upper end is provided with one or more inclined slots 35 which are open at the upper edge of the sleeve. The lamp shell 30 is provided with a pin 32 positioned to engage in the slot 35 as shown in FIGURE 5. Prefer ably a second slot 36 is provided in the sleeve diametrically from slot 35 and a second pin (not shown) corresponding to the pin 32 is positioned on the shell 30 to engage it. The slots and 36 are inclined in a direction or are generally parallel to the threads on the sleeve so that the pins 32 tend to move towards the closed ends of the slots 35 and 36 when the lamp is being screwed into a socket. Thus, this lamp is initially mounted in the socket by screwing it in in the usual way. If it is desired to remove the sleeve with the lamp it is rotated in the opposite direction, whereupon the pins 32 engage the shoulders of the slots 35 and 36, such as the shoulder 35a, so that both the lamp and the shell can be unscrewed from the socket. On the other hand, a lamp can be disengaged from the sleeve of the socket and the mounting sleeve by a short reverse turn so that the pins 32 can come out of the open ends of the slots 35 and 36. It is noted that the upper edge of the sleeve 33 seats against the underface of the lamp flange 31 under forced encounter as the pins 32 move towards the closed ends of the slots 35 and 36.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 7 the metallic lamp shell 40 is provided with an annular groove 41 in its wall. The separable threaded sleeve 44 in this case has a reentrant or reverse bent portion 45 preferably integral therewith, the terminal end of which is likewise formed into a groove 46 to mate with the groove 41. The reentrant sleeve portion 45 is provided with a plurality of axial slits 48 to divide the sleeve cylindrical wall into a series of arcuate fingers. This obviously makes it easier to engage and disengage the sleeve with the shell. A rim seat 42 on the shell is provided with one or more pins or abutments 43, intended to engage properly placed apertures in the upper end of the sleeve 44 so that the sleeve can be screwed into and unscrewed from the socket by rotating the lamp. In view of what has gone before it will be apparent that when this lamp is mounted in the socket it can be pulled out of it and forced back into it without removing the sleeve 44.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9, and 10. In this case, the conductive lamp shell 50 is provided with a right angle flange 51 and at suitably spaced circumferential points lugs 52, or detents, with upwardly extending portions are formed by forming a rectangular bead in the flange at those points. The terminal edge of the bead 52 is inclined as shown in FIGURE 10. The threaded sleeve 53 in this case is provided with a right angle flange 54 at its upper end. This flange is notched at the proper circumferential points as shown at 55 so that the bead male detents 52 can pass therethrough. The inclined edges of the detent 52 are in a direction so that when the lamp is screwed into the socket the edges of the shell flange 54 at the notches will pass into the respective detents and are jammed by the terminal edge of detent 52 against the underface of the flange 51. Thus the lamps can be screwed into a socket and tightly stuck. It can be unscrewed by reverse rotation of the lamp in which case the male detent 52 will strike the other edges of the notches 55. On the other hand, the lamp can be withdrawn and inserted axially by twisting it to align the male abutments 52 with the notches 55.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject matter of this invention can be embodied in various other specific constructions while attaining the same advantages and objects. In this respect it may be noted that the male abutments could be mounted or formed on the sleeves and the cooperating female abutments mounted or formed on the shells. It is intended therefore that the claims shall define the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to any particular species of the device.

We claim:

1. An electric lamp having an envelope and a two part base, said base comprising a shell secured to said envelope and having a male abutment member, a separable threaded sleeve surrounding said shell, said sleeve having an opening at the bottom thereof through which an electrical contact member of the lamp protrudes when the two parts 'are assembled and said sleeve having a female abutment member engaged by said male abutment member whereby said lamp may be threadedly mounted in a socket and may be disengaged from the socket and engaged with the socket by axial movement.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said male abutment comprising at least one pin.

3. In the combination of claim 1, said male abutment comprising at least one spring finger.

4. A two part base for an electric lamp comprising a shell fastened to one end of the lamp envelope to which internal connection is made to the lamp electrical parts, said shell having at least one clamping member extending outwardly therefrom and forming a clamp between two opposing faces, a sleeve surrounding said shell, said sleeve formed with an outwardly extending flange which fits between the opposing faces of the clamping member to be clamped and held thereby and an opening in its bottom through which an electrical contact member of the lamp can extend, and means on said sleeve for engaging complementary means on a lamp socket to hold the sleeve to said socket.

5. A base as in claim 4 wherein one of the faces of said clamping member has a carnming surface to permit the extending flange of the sleeve to more readily move between the opposing faces of the clamping member.

6. A base as in claim 4 wherein a plurality of clamping members are spaced circumferentially around the shell and a plurality of flanges are formed on the sleeve.

7. A base as in claim 6 wherein said sleeve is threaded so that the sleeve can be screwed into a mating socket and the shell and lamp disengaged and engaged therefrom by a slight rotational and primarily axial movement.

8. A base as in claim 5 wherein a plurality of clamping members are spaced circumferentially around the shell and a plurality of flanges are formed on the sleeve.

9. A base as in claim 8 wherein said sleeve is threaded so that the sleeve can be screwed into a mating socket and the shell and lamp disengaged and engaged therefrom by a slight rotational and primarily axial movement.

10. An adapted base for an electric lamp having an envelope, said base comprising a shell secured to said envelope, a sleeve surrounding said shell, said sleeve having means thereon for engaging and holding the lamp in a lamp socket, said sleeve also having. an opening at the bottom thereof through which an electrical contact member of the lamp protrudes when the two parts are assembled, mating means on said shell and said sleeve for engagement to hold said sleeve to said shell so that the lamp may be mounted in a socket by said mounting means and may be disengaged from the socketand engaged with the socket by axial movement of the lamp leaving the sleeve in the lamp socket.

11. An adapter base as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mating means comprises a clamping member having a carnming edge and an extending portion held by the clamping member.

12. An adapter base as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mating means comprises at least one spring finger held within a corresponding aperture.

13. An adapter base as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mating means comprises at least one pin and a corresponding slot into which a pin can be placed.

14. An adapter base as set forth in claim 10 comprising at least one spring finger engaging a wall.

15. An adaper base as set forth in claim 14 further comprising at least one pin seating in an aperture to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the shell.

16. An adapter base for an electric lamp having an envelope, said base comprising a shell fastened to one end of the lamp envelope to which internal connection is made to the lamp electrical parts, a sleeve surrounding said shell, said sleeve formed with an opening in its bottom through which an electrical contact member of 5 6 the lamp can extend, means on said sleeve for engaging References Cited complementary means on a lamp socket to hold the sleeve UNITED STATES PATENTS to said socket and clamping member means on said shell 348,647 9/1886 Weston 339-454 and said sleeve, one of said clamping member means 796,922 8/1905 Morgan 339 154 having a first outwardly extending means forming a clamp 5 between two opposing faces, the other clamping member MARVIN CHAMPION Primary Examinm means having an extending flange which fits between the opposing faces of the first means to be clamped and EDWARD ALLEN Examine"- held thereby. I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC LAMP HAVING AN ENVELOPE AND A TWO PART BASE, SAID BASE COMPRISING A SHELL SECURED TO SAID ENVELOPE AND HAVING A MALE ABUTMENT MEMBER, A SEPARABLE THREADED SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID SHELL, SAID SLEEVE HAVING AN OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF THROUGH WHICH AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBER OF THE LAMP PROTRUDES WHEN THE TWO PARTS ARE ASSEMBLED AND SAID SLEEVE HAVING A FEMALE ABUTMENT MEMBER ENGAGED BY SAID MALE ABUTMENT MEMBER WHEREBY SAID LAMP MAY BE THREADEDLY MOUNTED IN A SOCKET AND MAY BE DISENGAGED FROM THE SOCKET AND ENGAGED WITH THE SOCKET BY AXIAL MOVEMENT. 